Chapter 36 Exeter's Welcome Ceremony

This was three days after they arrived at Broken Dragon Fortress.

"The envoy sent to the Lumbard camp has returned."

Standing on the wall of the fortress, Commander Sonia Sutherley looked at the front of the fortress with a serious face:

"Charmain replied that he was waiting for the arrival of His Highness the Prince."

"I'm afraid you're leaving for the north today."

Thales was lying in front of the observation port on the city wall, looking at the wide snow-colored plain to the north.

In the field of vision, you can vaguely see a stretch of wide military camps, with the iron fist flag representing the Lumbard family in the black sand collar erected, and there are many military camps hidden in places that are out of sight, with cooking smoke rising far away.

"With tens of thousands of people waiting for my 'visit'?" Thales sighed: "I'm so popular."

Fortress Flower turned her head and said to Thales: "Charman Lombard is the Grand Duke of Exeter who borders the stars. After the assassination of the Exeter Mission, he quickly mobilized the vassals of the Black Sand Territory. An army of more than 10,000 people was gathered in a short period of time, approaching the border."

"They have been stationed there for two weeks. At first they just watched and deterred, but in the last three days, Lombard began to send a small group of troops to clear the surrounding arteries, even looted two villages, and fought with our patrols several times... We We have to narrow down the range of sentry cavalry and retreat back to the perimeter of the fortress."

Feeling the biting chill, Thales rubbed his hands and exhaled warm air into his palms: "I have arrived at the fortress, and the nine-pointed star flag of Canxing has also been raised...Why hasn't he withdrawn his troops? Obviously there is no invasion of the stars. Excuse."

Putilai behind Thales raised his brows: "From the perspective of Charmain Rumba's special life, he is a standard gambler. One of the characteristics of a gambler is that even if he loses until the last moment when he leaves the field, Don't want to go back."

"So my arrival has no effect on this gambler?" Thales snorted, "Even if it is a losing situation, he still wants to place a bet?"

"Not necessarily so," Puttilai replied seriously:

"What we were most worried about was that the other two grand dukes who also bordered on the stars--Trudida of the Reconstruction Tower and Olsio of the Welland Land both sent troops. The three grand dukes and even more Exeter vassals They pooled their forces, oppressed the Lonely Tower, Watchtower, and Cold Fortress that were mutual aid to the fortress, and attacked the isolated Broken Dragon Fortress regardless of the cost when they were unable to rush to help—the soldiers of Exeter regardless of their physical strength and quality , are better adapted to the cold winter than our reinforcements going north.”

"If they take here,

Just wait for the coldest day to pass," Sonia took over Puttilai's words: "Wait until next spring, when they will use the fortress as their base to make a big move south—just like eleven or two years ago. "

Putilai nodded:

"But with your mission to the north, the two grand dukes have not shown up now... This shows that our mission has been completed halfway: under the impending severe cold, the grand duke of Lombard cannot rely on his own more than 10,000 people, Take the fort before supplies run out."

"He's already lost."

Putilei said calmly.

"So, the other half of our mission - to completely eliminate the military disaster between the two countries, I'm afraid I will have to go to King Nun to complete it, right?" Thales shrugged helplessly:

"First of all, I have to go through the barracks of the Grand Duke of Lombard—and there are more than 10,000 strong northern men waiting for me with nowhere to vent their energy."

Putilei shook his head: "Rumba dare not endanger your safety... Attacking the fortress to occupy the northern border, and murdering the heir to fight against the Kingdom of Stars are two different concepts."

"Rumba may not dare, but his opponents are probably happy to see such a thing... We still have to be careful," Sonia said with a hearty smile, "Araka will bring his anger guards to escort you to Rumba's barracks door."

"Alaka?" Thales shook his head, remembering the aggressive and dangerous man and his disdainful eyes when he looked at him: "Are you sure he's willing to do this?"

"I don't deny that I hate him very much," Sonia snorted coldly, "but he is indeed the guy who fought the most against the Exeters on the battlefield."

"Besides, it's his own insistence—I was going to have Miranda..."

Thales couldn't help being taken aback.

Insist on escorting me?

He began to think about the appearance of that man again... Araka Mu.

It's a really familiar name.

I must have heard it somewhere.

At this moment, a black-haired female swordsman slowly walked up the city wall, and gave Sonia a slight salute with a blank expression on her face: "The team of the mission is ready, and please ask your Highness to make the final confirmation. "

Although the female swordsman called her Your Highness, she never glanced in Thales' direction or saluted him from the beginning to the end.

"En." Sonia nodded, then turned to look at Thales and Putillai.

Puttilai on the side sighed: "I'll go with you...Miss Arend."

Thales was taken aback again.

Aaron De...

The female swordsman - Miranda Arend nodded stiffly, and walked down the city wall with Putilei.

Still didn't look at Thales.

"Don't mind," Sonia smiled faintly, "Miranda is the only daughter of the Duke of Arend. Her father was imprisoned in the capital, and the family was shamed by this. It is normal to have a grudge against you."

"Oh," Thales nodded embarrassingly, "I seem to have heard from Huai Ya that there is a very famous female end swordsman in the fortress, and I heard that she is some kind of 'kind' of the end tower..."

"It's the 'seed'." Sonia looked at Miranda's back and sighed: "The Tower of the End preserves a large number of various fighting skills and the inheritance of the power of the end before the Battle of the End—among which swordsmanship is the most, Its inheritors are still constantly developing new sword skills, skills and even the power of ending, cultivating generations of masters of the power of ending for the human world—and only a few of the best students can get the "seed" titles like Miranda."

Thales looked at Sonia and frowned slightly.

The power of the end.

The extraordinary power of human self-awakening.

Another piece of news worth noting.

Does it have anything to do with my kind of fluctuation?

Sonia didn't know what Thales was thinking, she continued to say helplessly: "But even so, Miranda's situation is still very difficult recently."

"After Duke Aaronde was imprisoned, the Northern Territory was managed by her father's most trusted vassals, waiting for her to return after the crisis was over... But several cousins ​​and nephews of Aaronde were very concerned about the Northern Territory. The succession of the Duke of Jing is eyeing."

"Fortunately, although Val Arend is in prison, he is still the Duke of the North - His Majesty did not charge him with treason, nor deprived him of his title and territory, but only accused him of murdering foreign dignitaries, It's a little consolation."

Sonia sighed deeply: "It's just that I didn't expect him to do such a thing. You know, Val has been our backup for more than ten years in Broken Dragon Fortress."

"He's a coward!"

At this moment, a deep but disturbing voice came from afar.

"Compared to his brave brothers, Val Arend is a complete coward. He has completely disgraced his blood brothers... They are desperately guarding His Highness Horace's side, never retreating a single step." Araka Mu's figure slowly walked up from under the city wall, his face full of impatience:

"In contrast, twelve years ago, that Duke of Val was scared out of his wits by the bastards of Exeter... He actually believed in Luba."

"If you ask me, the only good thing he did was kill that Prince of Exeter."

"At least this time, you didn't say that until after Miranda left," Sonia sighed, covering her forehead, "Should I thank you for your thoughtfulness and taking care of her mood?"

"Her mood?" Araka snorted coldly: "Do I seem to be someone who would think about these things?"

Thales rolled his eyes in his heart: Why does this guy always act like someone owes him money?

Sonia snorted slightly: "What's the matter with you?"

Araka gave her a disdainful look.

"I'm here to find this brat." Alaka looked at Thales fiercely, making the latter a little nervous: "The three hundred people of the Fury Guards are ready... If you really want to go to Exeter to die, At least don't make me wait too long."

"It seems that you are not very satisfied with my going north, Baron Mu," Thales couldn't help asking, "Then why did you send me to the barracks in Lumbardy?"

Sonia let out a breath.

Alaka stared fixedly at Thales, making the latter feel uneasy.

"Because I owe Canxing a favor." After a long while, he said slowly, "And you, a disgusting Moji brat, happen to have the surname Canxing."

After saying that, Araka turned and left without looking back.

"We're leaving in the afternoon."

"Don't dawdle."

Thales and Sonia watched Alaka's figure go away.

"Don't get me wrong," Sonia said to Thales sarcastically, "That's his unique way of saying 'hello'—you know, Araka is shy."

shy?

Thales couldn't help sticking out his tongue.

"Is it because of the disagreement of ideas?" Thales asked suddenly.

"Huh?" Sonia showed a puzzled expression.

"The quarrel and discord between you and Baron Mu doesn't seem to be a specific enmity." Thales thought silently.

"Also, what you said about him and my uncle, Prince Horace..." Thales hesitated, but still said: "Although he looks annoying, Araka Not like someone who would stab a knife in the back."

Sonia was silent for a second.

"That's really angry words." Sonia said with a wry smile: "It was Alaka who brought the remaining troops back then, bathed in blood, broke out of the siege of Exeter, and snatched the body of Prince Horace."

"Before the "Fortress Peace Treaty", the Starlight Legion went north to join the remaining remnants of the kingdom, and fought three fierce battles with Exeter in the northern border, the cliff land, and the central border, regardless of casualties. We suffered heavy losses, and the opponent also The casualties were not small. And what I saw with my own eyes: Araka, who was almost crazy, his impact and lethality on the battlefield, even the epee infantry, which Exeter is most proud of, would be afraid of... I think this That's why Exteken finally sat down to negotiate."

Thales was taken aback.

That impatient man is actually...

"As for the concept, that's right," Sonia sighed, "John—your father's uncle, the Starlight Legion's combat principles are prudent and prudent, try to protect yourself, move in flexibly, and wait for opportunities to attack."

"But Prince Horace's army is known for its ruthless command and strict military regulations. Under his command, Araka is used to fighting tough and bloody battles. Because of the high casualties, Araka's army always has a large number of recruits, and He only leaves those tough guys who have endured blood and death..."

Sonia shook her head: "I don't understand why His Majesty put the two of us together—we couldn't even agree on how to advance and retreat on the battlefield."

"Maybe this is the king's purpose." Thales said suddenly.

Under Sonia's puzzled eyes, Thales raised his head: "When defending the fortress for a long time, you need a prudent and cautious general, but when Exeter's soldiers come under pressure, you need someone who can fight a tough battle head-on. "

Sonia looked up and glanced at him.

"Maybe." Sonia chuckled, "They're right. You really don't look like an ordinary child. It's not without reason that His Majesty chose you to go north."

"Ahem..."

Thales scratched his head in embarrassment, trying to find something to change the topic: "By the way, with such a brilliant record, why hasn't Araka been very famous?"

Sonia was completely taken aback.

"Not very famous?" Sonia stared at him with wide eyes, with a "how is that possible" expression on her face.

Thales narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"No," Sonia responded, shaking her head with a smile, "You must know him—even if you don't know his real name."

Under Thales' ignorant eyes, Sonia raised her head and looked at the Exeter barracks in the distance, her eyes shining brightly:

"From a beggar to a king, every star person knows him."

"At least know his nickname."

Thales' eyes widened in surprise.

Everyone knows……

At that moment, he knew who Alaka Mu was.

—————

Under Ramon's "diagnosis and treatment", Jorah's injury has stabilized, but he obviously can't follow him to the north.

"Yes, we need a supplementary suite."

Putillai walked beside Thales who had packed up, followed by Huaiya who was wrapped in bandages, Rolf whose arms were in splints, and Ada who was still slumped due to the cold:

"At least there are some benefits... The people we recruit from the fortress are all battle-hardened veterans, not the manor private soldiers of the Canxing family who are mainly trained in single-handed combat and protection—"

Thales looked at the 30 veterans who stood in awe-inspiring posture and had firm eyes. They were equipped with weapons ranging from swords and shields, bows and crossbows, spears to axes.

The former guard of the Duke of the Starlight Legion, Genard stood resolutely at the forefront, which made Thales a little dazed.

Putilai continued:

"Thanks to your trial under the gallows, many veterans are willing to join our mission... Even though many people think that our journey is very dangerous."

They passed the last row of soldiers, and a young man with dark hair and two guns waved happily to him.

Thales frowned: "Veteran?"

"He insisted on coming," Puttilai looked at the sunny Willow Ken, and spread his hands: "But there are only twenty-nine veterans among the volunteers, and the rest are recruits—I want to collect thirty In this case, at least this recruit who owes you kindness is more reliable."

Thales smiled at Willow: "At least they gave him a new pair of weapons."

Puttilai shrugged: There are a lot of broken spears in the warehouse, and it is not difficult to cut a pair of short ones.

"But that suspicious doctor... are you really going to take him?" Puttilai turned to look at Ramon, pursed his lips and shook his head: "I thought you had learned the lesson from Duke Iris..."

Ramon shrank in the team, and inadvertently looked up and saw Thales' eyes. He was slightly startled, and quickly lowered his head.

"Don't worry, I found out about his background and I have an agreement with him," Thales looked at Ramon with complicated eyes: "And he did save Jorah."

Blame the doctor.

The kind of power in his hands.

If you're right, it's...

I need to know more.

"If you have no doubts, Your Highness," Sonia came from a distance, followed by Miranda with a cold face, "According to the agreed time, it's time to leave."

"Alaka has selected 300 Sword and Shield soldiers of the Fury Guards." Fortress Flower squatted down and patted Thales on the shoulder, but this time her hands were a little heavier: "Sorry, the number There can be no more, and there are no more than 3,000 people in the fortress, but Araka chose all the old soldiers under his command."

She pouted at the man in light armor carrying a bow and arrow in the distance, obviously impatient: "They will escort you all the way to the border."

Thales exhaled a mouthful of mist, and stepped on the snow that belonged to the stars.

He raised his head and said silently, "Of course."

Sonia nodded at him.

The second prince of Xingchen showed a relaxed smile to everyone:

"Let's go."

"Follow me and see the kingdom of dragons!"

As a result, the cross double star flag representing the Star Kingdom and the nine-pointed star flag symbolizing the Canxing family were erected at the same time.

Wyah stepped on the Northland horse with broad hoofs unique to the north, and pulled Thales onto the saddle.

"I will swear to hold on to the rein, Your Highness," Wyatt said solemnly, "Please don't worry about your safety."

Thales nodded naturally: "Then I'll leave it to you, attendant." - He was used to Wyatt's attitude of "excessive force".

Puttilai and the few remaining Canxing private soldiers who had been trained in horseback riding rode on the remaining horses.

And Rolf is obviously not suitable for riding a horse, and Ada shakes her head violently when she sees a horse for some reason.

Araka rode up to Thales, and the sword and shield soldiers behind him followed with awe-inspiring expressions.

"Don't be scared, brat," Araka said coldly, "I heard from the person on duty above that Exeter has prepared a welcome ceremony for us."

ah?

Thales was taken aback.

Before he could react, he heard Araka yelling at the noose of the gate above his head:

"Open the gate!"

With the sound of metal friction on the hinges, the north gate of Broken Dragon Fortress slowly rose.

Thales took a deep breath, followed the Star Mission with less than 40 members, and an escort of more than 300 people, slowly walked out of Broken Dragon Fortress and headed north.

They first passed through the five north fortresses of Broken Dragon Fortress, and the soldiers on them were all bowed and stringed, ready to fight.

But Thales soon understood what Alaka meant by the "welcome ceremony".

Many people suddenly appeared on the white snow field in front of them.

Or rather, Exeter's army.

There were six battalions of infantry, lined up in a "eight" shape on the left and right, and distributed on both sides of the road in front of them.

The number of infantry in each brigade is about the same as their number—that is, more than 2,000 Exeter's infantry are waiting for them to go north.

The members of the mission became tense unconsciously, and Wyah tightened his grip on the reins.

"This is our welcome ceremony?" Thales looked at the Exeter army formation not far ahead with an uneasy expression: "They really crossed the border..."

He turned his head and glanced at the fortress, and Sonia's figure was faintly visible.

"Get ready for battle," Araka, who was walking in front, said in a deep voice to his soldiers, "Don't relax."

"Maybe it's for demonstration," Puttilai frowned, "but there's no need to line up in front of the fortress... The effect is the same as waiting for us to enter Exeter's barracks."

"I have a bad feeling." Thales said with a pale face.

"So you want to retreat, little prince?" Araka said sarcastically, "It's too late to turn back now."

"Are you kidding me?" Thales closed his eyes and exhaled, then opened his eyes: "Go ahead."

"Don't worry," Puttilai said in a deep voice, "Rumba will not be so stupid as to kill Xingchen's prince and heir at the border between the two countries in full view."

"As long as we don't do anything provocative, give each other excuses."

They moved slowly until they entered the range of the "eight".

"They didn't say there would be such a thing..." In the team, Ramon nervously touched a black-haired soldier next to him: "The mission should be fine, right?"

"Ah?" Willow Ken was stunned for a moment, then reacted, and patted Ramon's shoulder with a smile: "Don't worry! I've met them... Exeter's soldiers are all fine."

"Very good?" Ramon was taken aback, but Willow's next words made his face pale.

"If they want to kill you, their swords are sharp—and they won't grind, and you won't suffer."

At this moment, six battalions of infantry slowly moved.

The members of the mission suddenly became nervous!

But fortunately, Exeter's soldiers did not come towards them.

On the left and right sides of the mission, the two leading Exeter brigades advanced slowly, almost passing the mission, Thales could even see the beards and yellow teeth of the northern soldiers.

Their appearance is rough and fierce, and tall soldiers are often equipped with large axes or huge maces.

The Exeter also looked back at the mission of the stars with a hostile expression.

"Puff puff……"

The sound of heavy footsteps stepping on the snow came sporadically, but the momentum of more than 2,000 people in all directions made these dense footsteps quite shocking to the ears.

Thales looked serious.

It was the first time he faced such an army formation of thousands of people, and he was a little flustered.

But not only him.

Even the sword and shield soldiers of the Fury Guards couldn't help becoming nervous.

"Puff puff……"

"Steady." Araka said in a deep voice.

Thales, who was in a disturbed mood, wanted to calm down, so he turned his head and saw the soldiers from the Northland clearly.

From armor, weapons, movements to marching, Exeter's infantry brigade is obviously not as orderly and uniform as the star's phalanx. Some are holding axes and wearing chain armor, and some are holding one-handed swords and only wearing breastplates. Yes, there are shields in one hand and spears in one hand, and there are even sword and shield soldiers similar to the sword and shield soldiers of the stars, but Thales can clearly feel that these infantry are different from the infantry of the stars.

They all have one thing in common: unfriendly eyes, fierce expressions, aggressive momentum, expressions full of contempt and disdain.

These infantrymen held the banner of Iron Fist, but from time to time, they rubbed, knocked, and swung their blades in demonstrations, murderous, like wild beasts that would go mad at any time.

"Puff puff……"

Not quite right.

Thales secretly told himself.

If it's a demonstration...

"They are all light infantry. Exeter's famous two-handed epee infantry and heavy armored sword and axemen, and even the northern heavy cavalry are not there, not even light cavalry." Puttilai said slowly after thinking deeply:

"If it's the troops behind, it's too easy to kill us... The light infantry should be just a demonstration."

"Then why didn't they use those other very powerful arms to demonstrate?" Thales frowned and asked aloud: "A group of heavy infantry stepped on us with amazing momentum... This is more effective, isn't it? ?”

Putillai also frowned.

It is indeed strange...

"Puff puff……"

"Don't relax!" Alaka Mu's voice sounded.

"Even if there are more than two thousand light infantry, if they swarmed up, it would be enough to chop us into pieces in half an hour." Araka tightened the silver and black metal bow on his back, turned his head and said coldly to them:

"On the battlefield of thousands of troops, without support and cover, the extreme masters can't survive for half an hour."

But just in the next moment, the situation completely changed.

The six brigades of the Exeters were moving slowly, and after passing them, the two leading brigades suddenly turned around under the orders of the officers to join the other side.

"Puff puff……"

The random footsteps of two thousand people kept coming!

Exeter's light infantry, surrounding them, slowly changed from "eight" to "mouth".

"They are surrounding us!" Huai Ya shouted angrily, "What does this mean?"

Puttilai looked at the Exeter in shock.

Thales looked into the distance in disbelief, trying to see clearly ahead.

impossible.

"Stop!" Araka roared, stopping the entire mission and escort team: "Stand in place!"

Although nervous and apprehensive, Xingchen's more than 300 soldiers—especially the veterans—stopped and turned in an orderly manner, forming a circle around the prince with their swords and shields forming a wall.

"It's impossible to rush out now," Araka looked angrily at the surrounding Exters: "These bastards..."

Everyone in Xingchen looked at the murderous Exeter infantry around them in surprise and tension.

"What should we do now?" Wyatt asked through gritted teeth.

"Do they have anyone they can communicate with? An officer or a commander?" Thales asked nervously, "For the benefit of Lumbard, they dare not kill me..."

But the next moment, several strange and forceful orders sounded in Exeter's army formation.

The expressions of Alaka and Putilei suddenly changed!

There are also many veterans.

They recognized this Exeter order.

In the next second, more than 2,000 Exeter infantrymen from six brigades raised their weapons and roared in unison!

"Woooh! Woooh! Woooh!"

The sky-shattering roar made Thales feel terrified: "What's wrong with them...?"

The next moment, I saw the infantrymen of Exeter with grim faces, throwing their footsteps away.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The footsteps sounded louder than before, like thunder.

More than 2,000 infantrymen, holding their weapons, rushed towards Thales' mission from six directions!

"kill!"

Exeter's light infantry, roaring frantically, charged at them.

Thales stared blankly at everything in front of him.

Doesn't it mean that Rumba dare not endanger my safety?

【Waiting for the arrival of His Royal Highness】

Then why...

Why did he... kill me?

"Damn it," Puttilai widened his eyes in surprise, and pulled out the hand and half sword at his waist: "They actually..."

A louder roar exploded out of thin air, interrupting Puttilai's words:

"Enemy Charge!"

At the center of the team, Alaka Mu's face was ashen. He controlled the restless mount, pulled out a fierce two-handed long sword, and roared at the escort team of the stars—his anger guard:

"Ready to fight!"